All the cycling data and info you'll need to climb Lacets de Montvernier

Cycling Lacets de Montvernier

Ride 3.4 kilometers gaining 275 meters at 8.2% average grade.

This is one of the lesser known but world class road bike climbs in the Saint Jean de Maurienne Climb Zone. Some of the most famous bike climbs are found within a 25 kilometer straight-line radius of this climb, including Col de Croix de Fer, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col de la Loze, and the start of Alpe d’Huez is 37 miles as the crow flies.

The climb begins just northeast of E70 and D1006 near Pontamafrey, six kilometers north of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

The shorter Lacets de Montvernier route overlaps the longer Col du Chaussy climb.  The 2022 Tour de France route climbs Lacets de Montvernier, but turns right and heads toward Col du Télégraphe at the town of Vernier instead of travelling northerly on to Col du Chaussy.

Well . . . it’s not called Lacets de Montvernier for nothing . . .

This is one of the greatest hairpin climbs in the world, with an astounding 17 lacets in 1.9 kilometers at 8.7% average grade - essentially winding straight up a mountainside.

Wonderful views southeast of the Maurienne Valley as we wind our way up the mountains.

The climb finishes in Monternier (2018 population 223).

The climb has appeared once (2015) in the Tour de France Stage 19 which was won by The Shark, Vincenzo Nibali of Italy.  The Tour de France features Lacets de Montvernier July 11, 2022 on Stage 11 as the first climb of the day, followed by Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, and Col du Granon (3978m/13,051’ of climbing in all).